Iowa House Ready To Debate On Cannabis Oil Legislation

By
Mike Wiser, WCF Courier
on May 1, 2014

Iowans would be allowed to possess and use a limited form of medical marijuana under a bill now headed to the House floor.

The legislation, approved 13-5 by a House committee Tuesday, gives legal protection for people who suffer from seizures, or their guardians, to use marijuana-based cannabidiol treatments they could purchase in other states.

Only people who obtain a state-sanctioned user card, the qualification for which includes a neurologist’s prescription, can legally possess the drug.

“It protects us from criminalization, that’s the important part,” said Maria LaFrance, whose 12-year-old son, Quincy, suffers from epileptic seizures.

She and Quincy became forceful advocates for legalization legislation over many visits to the Statehouse this year.

“We’re just grateful for any compassion that is there, and compassion is not new in Iowa,” she said.

The bill passed the Iowa Senate last week. House members added three amendments in committee Tuesday.